Brianna by Judy Mays - Celestial Passions 01 Page A

your planet is. If you weren’t here, he’d just send one of the Academy ships back as soon as he could summon one. Do you really want him going back and kidnapping some unsuspecting person for his experiments?”
    Brianna stared at the ceiling. “That’s where they’ve got me.
    How could I let anyone else go through this? And what if they kidnapped a child?” With a sigh, she sat up, took the brush, and began working the tangles out of Meri’s wet hair. “I know you’re all thinking not only of me but also of everyone on Earth. But marriage! I don’t even know this Chardadon! What kind of man is he?”
    Meri turned and took Brianna’s hands in hers. “If you’re truly against this marriage, we won’t force you into it.”
    Brianna withdrew her hands from Meri’s, rose from the bed, and walked across the room.
    “I know this is the best way, but how much of a marriage will it be? What will be expected of me? How will his family react?
    Will they understand why he’s married me? Will they want to protect me from Bakom, too?”
    Meri sighed as she watched Brianna. She could understand her fears. She herself had experienced some of them, and she’d known that Ademis wanted her for a wife. Brianna had no such assurances. Marriage would make protecting Brianna easier but would present numerous problems if either she or Char wanted to end it at a later date.
    “Char would never willingly hurt you. I know you don’t know him very well, but I do,” she said as Brianna turned to face her.
    The uncertainty and misery on Brianna’s face tugged at Meri’s heart. “None of us knows why Char suggested marriage,”
    she began slowly, “but I have my own theories. Char’s been piloting his family’s starships since he was eighteen. He’s never shown an interest in family life, but has certainly had his share of affairs with women from every human planet. None lasted more than a few months. The last few years, he has seemed less than satisfied with his life. He’s even gone so far as to meet some of the women his sister-in-law has chosen as suitable marriage partners.”
    Brianna sighed. “I bet she’ll really love me.”
    Meri smiled. “Don’t worry about Crystas. We’ll deal with her when the time comes. Anyway, as I was saying, after Miklan brought you on board and Char was forced to rescue you from Bakom, there have been subtle changes in his behavior. You’ve sparked his interest. Both Adem and Lorilana agree on that.
    You’re different. Drakians have always been drawn to the exotic.
    We Medirians fascinate them because of our long hair. All Drakians have brown hair, in various hues, that barely reaches much past their shoulders.”
    Brianna pushed a lock of hair back over her shoulder. “I’ll definitely stand out in a crowd then.”
    Meri nodded her head affirmatively. “Exactly! Your coloring is more exotic than any except the Gattan, and they stick to themselves. The fact that you saved two members of his crew, however, demands action from Char. Any respectable Drakian would show his protective instincts and sense of responsibility towards you.”
    “Yeah, but marriage isn’t based on protectiveness and a sense of responsibility.”
    Meri stared at Brianna and decided to be blunt. “Those aren’t the only reasons Char wants to marry you. He wants you in his bed.”
    Brianna’s blush rose to the roots of her hair.
    “And, if I’m correct,” Meri continued, “that’s just where you’d like to be.”
    Brianna blushed even more. The prospect of making love to Char was becoming more and more intriguing as the hours went by.
    Growing up in a royal court made reading people’s expressions a necessity, and Meri was very good at it. She hugged Brianna and then held her at arm’s length. “Would making love to Char be taboo on your planet?”
    “To some people, maybe, because he’s an alien, but not to many others.”
    “Are you virginal? Haven’t you ever been with a man